Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-21
Shot His Wife ana Himself.

THE RASH CRIME OF A DEMENrED ACTOR
Jas. Rivers, a weil-knOwn actor stage manager
and dranatist, OF Philadelphia, who has an ex-
tensiye acquaintance among the theatrical pro-
feSsion throughout the country, shot his wife in
the right hip Tuesday afternoon, and then put a
bullet into his own body, inficting injuries which
are supposed 30 be fatal. Rivers whose STAGE
name Is JAS Reynolds. is about forty-ive years
Old he Is Philadelphian by birth. and was
considered one or the handsomest men on the
stage His wife, Olive Rivers, Is Il bout ten wears
his junior, and the couple have two bright chill
dren. The eldest, Fannie, is seventeen Years Old
and her brother, Frank, Is fourteen.
Rivers family lived in a boarding house on 18th
street. above Girard avenue, in Philadelphia. His
last engagement was With the ..Ranch iOn combi
nation, ia which he managed the stage and as
suIned a minor character. One month ago the
company disbanded, and Rivers returned 10 his
wife and children in Philadelphia Since then he
has been unable to secure an engagement and MS
scanty stock OF funds was almost exhausted ON
friday last he engaged two rooms, the second
story back and front in Miss Hons boardinr
houSe, on the southeast corner OF 18th and Nor ~
Vernon streets. He was actively engaged in ,rrit
ing new play, and devoted nearly ali his time IN
the manuscript, hoping to complete IL In time to
have II produced next season. This menral strain
In ADDITION 10 hts financial troubles Is believed 10
have affected his brain, and his friends have no
ticed that he acted strangely for some time a
meeS age he ne 6ougnt ms boy Frank toy gun and
sell and your mother. too, II that would do it
Toesday afternoon about 4 O'Clock Rivers was
slttlng at table in the back room reading some
manuscript. His wife was seated few feet away
by the window sewing. The two children were in
tne mont room. Suddenly Rivers sprang from his
eha1r threw the manuscript ON the floor and drew
from bis pocket a new sx-harreled 32-caIiber 70
volver, which he had evidently bought for the pur
pose hls Vile screamed and ran toward the door
and ne nred several shots after her Only ona
bullet took effect and that struck her in Inc leTt
MP, innleting painful flesh wound. She man
aged 10 drag herself from the ROOM and Rivers nut
The pistol To his head and pulled the trigger SEND
ing snot crashing through his cheek, just below
the base or the brain. Not content with this he
pointed the weapon at his left breast with the
intention OF shooting himself through the heart.
us ann was Dad, however, and the bullet sank in
10 MS breast an inch below the heart
When the officers arrived they found Mrs
RIVERS Ying grooming upon a bed In The front
floor OF the back room The moor yvsS co 0u ,S
with blood, which was tricklfnc from his breaSf
anu ne stu held the revolver in his right hand
Ut haL.el the district surgeon, Was called in and
SAID that Rivers wounds were untloubtedIv fatal
An ambulance was called and the unconscious
m Yas hs,as' 10 ING pennsylvania Hospital. AS
covered CONSCIOUSNESS and opening his eyes said.
,. Me,i; guess I've made success OF il, haven't
~? MIS-: RIVERS wound was dressed by Dr. Hazael
She Is said 10 be half frantic with grief
THE WOUNDED NAN IN CRITICAL coNprT1oS-
WIFE BETTER.
The Philadelphia Times this morning saws. When
hisers entered the hospital he was suffering from
two wounds. one in the right side or his bssa ana
another a few inches below the beart ph,-ssa,a.a
early TINS morning succeeded in eytracting TIC
bullet which had entered his head Attemnfs WEI,
49, ~ 49, - oaIi, Dul ne was TOO W. al
from loss OIL blood TO allow successful search an
IL still remains IN his body. AT lare he -, anu
night tne phy sclans ut the hospital said rnst Pc
ers was little improved and was reS,t snas NV
but that ne was iar from being out OF dsnser No
one was allowed 70 see him. Mrs. nivers! iniusieS
We're slight, merely flesh wounti. ana her p3hxSi
clan says she will be entirely ressTered w,phin 81
week Ms. Rivers Is suffering almost as mnrS
from grief as from the effects OF her wouna my Sh
says that she is certain tEat her a,Sh ana cue
never have acted as he did had he nor psn al
ranged. Ao' oeeh oe-